Football Season Guide

The past season was a complicated one for the historical French club FC Sochaux, who had to face some financial issues and, despite reaching an easy salvation, never really were protagonists in the fight for promotion to the Ligue 1. During the summer, the club, which is celebrating its 90th anniversary, passed from the hands of the Chinese businessman Wing Sang Li to the Spanish group Baskonia Alaves, with plenty of disappointment from the supporters complaining for its loss of identity. The summer not only brought a new ownership but also a new, Spanish, coach. During his short career, the 42-year-old Jose Manuel Aira has obtained some positive results in the lower Spanish leagues with Racing Club de Ferrol and Real Murcia while his last post was at NK Rudes, a Croatian club formerly owned, and just recently offloaded, by Baskonia Alaves themselves. The Spanification of FC Sochaux was also extended to the squad. In fact, most of the protagonists of the past campaign left for pastures new, due to being released, sold or just let go, and they were mostly replaced by loans coming from Deportivo Alaves, another club owned by Baskonia Alaves. FC Sochaux defence and attack were mostly affected by the summer leavings as Adolphe Teikeu, Mickaël Alphonse, Zakarya Bergdich and Florent Ogier all be missed at the back. Just as well, Yakou Meité’s and Aldo Kalulu’s departures will both impoverish the squad up-front. The latter, in particular, on loan from Olympique Lyonnais, had left a great mark on the past campaign, having scored 12 goals and served 3 assists. While Florian Tardieu too left, for Belgium, more bad news also arrive from Florian Martin, who was the top scorer of the team last season with 13 goals and did not agree an extension of his contract. So, the starting eleven will be completely renewed and newcomers like Rafa Paez, Nando, Einar Galilea and Elisha Owusu are all expected to be given starting roles at the back and in the midfield while the Ukrainian giant Pylyp Budkivskyi should lead the attack in a 4-4-2 formation.